Squaring off for the final time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Edmonton Oilers collide at Rogers Place. CBC Sports will broadcast this East-West matchup, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 7.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton Oilers Odds
Edmonton heads into the game as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -150. The line for Columbus sits at +130, and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 to bet the over, +105 for the under) at PointsBet.
Earning 6.2 units for moneyline bettors, the Oilers are 36-32 straight up (SU) overall in the 2019-20 season. That winning percentage, ranked second in the Pacific Division so far in the early season, is a refreshing turnaround from how the team performed during the 2018-19 season (35-47). Through 68 regular season outings, 33 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team’s 16-15 SU at home this year.
Edmonton comes into the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 29.8 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.5 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over its last five matchups total, and 3.4 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.8 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
With a .914 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Mikko Koskinen (18-18-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Oilers this season. If they choose to give him a rest, however, the team may turn to Mike Smith (19-19-19 record, .903 save percentage, 2.94 goals against average).
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid will both look to continue their strong seasons for the Oilers. Draisaitl (110 points) has put up 43 goals and 67 assists and has recorded multiple points in 32 different games this year. McDavid has 32 goals and 63 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 46 contests.
Columbus has lost 2.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far and is currently 32-36 straight up (SU). A total of 40 of its outings have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team, Columbus is 12-20 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 16.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 13th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.2 percent of all penalties.
Columbus’ skaters have been penalized only 2.9 times per game in total this season, and 0.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 3.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Joonas Korpisalo (25.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Columbus. Korpisalo has 19 wins, 17 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, while registering a .912 save percentage and 2.58 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Blue Jackets, the offense will be facilitated by Pierre-Luc Dubois (18 goals, 30 assists) and Gustav Nyquist (14 goals, 27 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at Edmonton Oilers Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Edmonton’s last five games.
Penalties and power plays may prove to be even more critical than usual tonight. The Blue Jackets are 14-19 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 27-24 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Oilers are 15-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 27-23 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Columbus is 0-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 2-2 in shootouts.
Edmonton is ranked 9th in the league this season with 8.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it has forced 6.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 takeaways over its last five.
Columbus is ranked 29th in the NHL with 6.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as the team has created 5.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.0 takeaways over its last five.
Edmonton may hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 15-12 in games decided by one goal, while Columbus is 19-23 in such games.